Top things to do in Istria, Croatia

Istria is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic sea. Istria shared by Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. It’s a wonderful place as small (you can drive from one end to another in just over an hour) and can claim three of Croatia’s most attractive coastal towns in Pula, Rovinj, and Porec. Behind the beaches, though, the hilly, wooded interior produces high-quality wine, olive oil, ham and the diamond of gastronomy, the truffle, all of which have contributed to Istria’s growing reputation as a gourmet destination.

Here are the Top things to do in Istria

Truffle Hunting in Buzet

The land of our heart-shaped peninsula consists of two types of soil texture: the intensely red one in the coastal area and of the grey, clayish one in its central part. The truffle grows exactly in this grey soil, its epicentre being in the damp Motovun-Montona Forest constantly moistened by the Mirna River flowing through its woods. To be more precise, it is mainly spotted around Oprtalj-Portola, in Livade and in the Buzet area, where Buzet has already been renowned as the Town of Truffles. The Istrian white truffle is one of the most highly prized in the world today.

Best is to visit one of many small truffles manufacturers in the northern part of Istria. I have been visiting Prodantartufi owned by a small family in Buzet. After a small introduction, we were invited to a truffle hunt.

Visit Rovinj – Rovigno

One of the most ‘photogenic’ towns in the Mediterranean, once a fishing town, today is a tourist resort. At a distance of some 40 kilometres from Pula, Rovinj-Rovigno has long been known as the town with favourable and beneficial climatic features. So, today its people are still proud of this long tradition and ‘fight’ for the title of ‘healthy town’… The rest is nature’s work. The entire coastline, with its twenty-two islands is an area of protected natural heritage.

Olive Oil tasting in Fazana

Hardly anything can be compared to this opaque, darkish fluid; it is absolutely unique. A hallmark of the Mediterranean associated with the notion of healthiness, gastronomic delight and with a serene, untroubled old age, in particular, Istria is well known for Olive Oil production, There are many places to visit manufacturing and do Olive Oil tasting.

I have visited a small Olive Oil manufacturer – Nicoletta Balija – the Olive Oil princess of Istria one of the rising stars of the Istrian Olive Oil scene. You can meet Nicoletta and experience an olive oil tasting at her recently opened Arboretum Pub in Fazana. Afterwards, you can enjoy an Angus beef burger, or taste some Istrian and/or tapas from the Italian region of Apulia, where Nicoletta’s husband Emanuele hails from.

Charter a sailing boat and enjoy Blue Istria’s seaside

Start sailing along the Istrian coast with the sun in your face and the wind in your sails. Only when seen from the open sea does the face of Istria reveals itself to you in its full splendour. This is a land of a hundred islands, islets, and docile bays

Explore the wonderful beaches of Rabac – Beach St. Andrea

This magnificent beach area is named “the pearl of Adriatic” and has a Blue Flag, an internationally recognized symbol of high-quality services, clean sea and shore, cleanliness and required equipment at beaches.

St. Andrea is a beach where there are sandy and rocky parts that will meet the swimmers needs. On the beach, you can rent deck- chairs and parasols, as well as various water and beach sports equipment

Visit a Spa in Istria

There are spa centres in Istria that are open all year round in which you can find peace and tranquility and escape from the everyday stress. Each spa with its own themes and methods has a common goal for their guests to be completely relaxed! The mild climate, sunny days, clear sea water, untouched nature with an abundance of aromatic plants will make your vacation more enjoyable.
Choose something for you from the variety of the spa offer, enjoy and relax in the Istrian spas.

Enjoy Istria’s local food

Whether you chose delicacies of the sea or a delicious truffle, the golden drops of the autochthonous Malmsey, the fragrant Momjan Muscat or ruby-coloured Teran that Casanova used to refresh himself with, these superb pleasures will stay in your memory forever.

Hope you do like my selection of activities in Istria. If you have any additional suggestions please let me know in the comments below